Harvard Wants to Teach You About Sex

Harvard Sex Week, which is run by recognized student-run organization Sexual Health Education & Advocacy throughout Harvard College (SHEATH), starts October 2oth, and intends, according to a press release “to promote a week of programming that is interdisciplinary, thought-provoking, scholastic, innovative, and applicable to student experiences in order to promote a holistic understanding of sex and sexuality.” The goal of sex week is to connect diverse individuals and communities both within and beyond Harvard through common human experiences with love, sex, sexuality, and relationships. SHEATH’s mission is to provide students with a holistic understanding of sex and sexuality.

Organizations like SHEATH are important to have on college campuses. The CDC estimates that there are more than 19.7 million new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States each year, costing the American healthcare system nearly $16 billion in direct medical costs alone. Some have the potential to cause serious health problems, especially if not diagnosed and treated early. Young people (ages 15-24) account for half (50 percent!) of all new STIs, even though they represent only 25 percent of the sexually experienced population. Even with all of the smart kids out there, it seems that many are really stupid when it comes to sexual health.

For the second year in a row, the event will be co-sponsored by Jopen, a high-end sex toy maker. Jopen calls themselves a “pleasure product brand” but let’s not mince words. They make sex toys. And expensive ones at that. But when it comes to purchasing sex toys, buying from the bargain basement bin isn’t exactly the best call. And Harvard students are probably smart enough to know that.

The events during Sex Week will aim to teach students about sexual health and includes discussions like a Sex Toy Workshop, Sex Ed 101, Gender 101, and Kink 101 as well as seminars about faith and sex, and loving the body you have. Jopen is donating products from their “Key” Collection for the Sex Toy Workshop.

“Harvard’s Sex Week features a wide variety of events that revolve around love, sex, gender, sexual health, dating, and relationships,” says Ben Martin, co-President of SHEATH. “Sexual wellness has always been a major theme of Sex Week so we’re very excited to partner with JOPEN to help educate students and introduce them to new products. [It’s] the perfect line for us to demonstrate at our Sex Toy Workshop and give away to many lucky students.”